What does שָׁכַר (šākar) mean in the Bible?
שָׁכַר (šākar): Intoxication as loss of rational control, extended figuratively to overwhelming influence or satiation of desire.
Hebrew · H7937
שָׁכַר
שָׁכַר (šākar): Intoxication as loss of rational control, extended figuratively to overwhelming influence or satiation of desire.
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שָׁכַרH7937
Pronunciationšākar
What does שָׁכַר (šākar) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for שָׁכַר (H7937) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7937?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include drunk (3), and drank freely (1), and he got [Uriah] drunk (1), and I will make them drunk (1), be drunk (1).
Where does שָׁכַר (šākar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 9:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (5), Isaiah (4), Genesis (2), 1 Samuel (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdrunk3×Deuteronomy 32:42, Jeremiah 51:7, Jeremiah 51:57
and drank freely1×Genesis 43:34
and he got [Uriah] drunk1×2 Samuel 11:13
and I will make them drunk1×Jeremiah 51:39
be drunk1×Isaiah 29:9
drink freely1×Song Of Solomon 5:1
drunken1×Isaiah 51:21
get drunk1×Jeremiah 25:27
have your fill1×Haggai 1:6
he became drunk1×Genesis 9:21
I made them drunk1×Isaiah 63:6
Make him drunk1×Jeremiah 48:26
they are drunk1×Habakkuk 2:15
they will be drunk1×Isaiah 49:26
will become drunk1×Nahum 3:11
will you be drunk1×1 Samuel 1:14
you will get drunk1×Lamentations 4:21
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 9:21וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑רtohe became drunkConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 43:34וַֽיִּשְׁכְּר֖וּtoand drank freelyConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 32:42אַשְׁכִּ֤ירtodrunkVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular1 Samuel 1:14תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑יןtowill you be drunkVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person feminine singular | Paragogic nun2 Samuel 11:13וַֽיְשַׁכְּרֵ֑הוּtoand he got [Uriah] drunkConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularSong Of Solomon 5:1וְשִׁכְר֖וּtodrink freelyConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralIsaiah 29:9שָֽׁכְר֣וּtobe drunkVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralIsaiah 49:26יִשְׁכָּר֑וּןtothey will be drunkVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunIsaiah 51:21וּשְׁכֻרַ֖תtodrunkenConjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular constructIsaiah 63:6וַאֲשַׁכְּרֵ֖םtoI made them drunkConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 9:21
Aligned rows19
Books represented11
Genesis2Deuteronomy11 Samuel12 Samuel1Song Of Solomon1Isaiah4Jeremiah5Lamentations1Nahum1Habakkuk1Haggai1
Source forms
אַשְׁכִּ֤יר1x’aš·kîrDeuteronomy 32:42
הַשְׁכִּירֻ֕הוּ1xhaš·kî·ru·hūJeremiah 48:26
וַאֲשַׁכְּרֵ֖ם1xwa·’ă·šak·kə·rêmIsaiah 63:6
וְ֠הִשְׁכַּרְתִּי1xwə·hiš·kar·tîJeremiah 51:57
וְהִשְׁכַּרְתִּים֙1xwə·hiš·kar·tîmJeremiah 51:39
וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר1xway·yiš·kārGenesis 9:21
וַֽיְשַׁכְּרֵ֑הוּ1xway·šak·kə·rê·hū2 Samuel 11:13
וַֽיִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ1xway·yiš·kə·rūGenesis 43:34
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural2xSong Of Solomon 5:1, Jeremiah 25:27
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular2xLamentations 4:21, Nahum 3:11
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular construct1xIsaiah 51:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xJeremiah 51:57
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural1xJeremiah 51:39
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural1xIsaiah 63:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular1x2 Samuel 11:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xGenesis 43:34
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Intoxication as loss of rational control, extended figuratively to overwhelming influence or satiation of desire.
Strong'sH7937
Lexical occurrences19 versesWord forms3 forms6 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkJeremiah 13:12-14Source Gloss
to become tipsy ; in a qualified sense, to satiate with a stimulating drink or (figuratively) influence
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Intoxication as loss of rational control, extended figuratively to overwhelming influence or satiation of desire.
to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with a stimulating drink or (figuratively) influence Usage: (be filled with) drink (abundantly), (be, make) drunk(-en), be merry. (Superlative of 8248.)
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms6
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
ImperfectLam 4:21 · Nah 3:112×
PerfectIsa 29:91×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
ImperfectDeut 32:421×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
Infinitive absoluteHab 2:151×
Participle activeJer 51:71×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
People filled with intoxicating drink, saturated with wine
Moab made drunk or staggering, figuratively conquered and humiliated
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁכַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.